7 Days in Gran Canaria: Dunes, Volcano Views, and Ocean Adventures from Playa del Inglés and Las Palmas
Gran Canaria is where the Atlantic’s salt air meets ancient volcanoes and vibrant Spanish island life. Settled by the Guanche people long before the Spanish conquest in the 15th century, the island is a tapestry of cliffside villages, cathedral squares, banana plantations, and modern beach towns.
In one day you can walk barefoot on the Maspalomas dunes, sip cortado leche y leche like a local, and end up above the clouds at Roque Nublo for a cinematic sunset. The microclimates are real—pack for beach heat on the south coast and cooler breezes inland and at higher elevations.
Expect seafood fresh from small harbors, mojos (red and green sauces) with wrinkled potatoes, and a relaxed rhythm that shifts with the tide. Driving is straightforward, buses are frequent, and the week below balances pool time at Hotel Caserio with easy adventures across the island.
Maspalomas (Playa del Inglés)
Basecamp for your week: Playa del Inglés, a long arc of sand backed by palm-lined promenades and the photogenic Maspalomas dunes. Your Hotel Caserio sits a short stroll from the beach and the Yumbo Centre, making sunrise swims and late tapas equally convenient.
Highlights nearby include the historic Maspalomas lighthouse, the La Charca nature reserve with wading birds, and quick access to Puerto de Mogán, a pastel harbor nicknamed “Little Venice.” Watersports, beachfront cafes, and golden-hour dune walks set the tone.
- Stay options (if you want alternatives): Browse VRBO in Maspalomas or compare hotels on Hotels.com for Maspalomas.
- Getting in: Fly to LPA (Gran Canaria Airport). Search flights via Omio. Taxi to Playa del Inglés takes ~25–35 minutes (~€35–45). Bus 66 or 90 runs ~45–55 minutes (~€3.50–€5).
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
The capital blends history, surf, and city energy. Walk medieval Vegueta where Columbus stayed en route to the New World, then trace the 2.5-km curve of Las Canteras, one of Europe’s great urban beaches with calm snorkeling behind its reef “La Barra.”
From Playa del Inglés, buses reach Las Palmas in about an hour; come hungry for tapas in Triana and seafood by the water. The city rewards flâneurs with galleries, plazas, and rooftop views.
- Day-trip logistics: From Maspalomas/Playa del Inglés, bus lines to Las Palmas take 45–60 minutes (~€7); taxi ~40–50 minutes (~€45–€55) via the GC‑1.
- Stay options (if you add a night): Explore VRBO in Las Palmas or hotels on Hotels.com Las Palmas.
Day 1: Arrival, First Swim, and Dunes Sunset
Afternoon: Arrive at LPA and taxi or bus to Hotel Caserio in Playa del Inglés. Drop bags, swap shoes for sandals, and take a beach stroll—aim south toward Maspalomas lighthouse for a horizon-wide first look.
Evening: Catch sunset from the Maspalomas dunes (enter near La Charca; stick to marked paths to protect the habitat). Dinner at La Palmera Sur for refined Canarian-Mediterranean plates—order the tuna tataki, Canarian cheese board, and a bottle of volcanic Malvasía. For a view-splurge, book 360º Restaurant atop Bohemia Suites for tasting menus with the coast glittering below.
Day 2: Maspalomas Dunes, Camel Ride, and Yumbo Nightlife
Morning: Easy breakfast near the hotel: Mr. Kale Meloneras for smoothie bowls, avocado toasts, and good espresso, or a café con leche and croissant at Café de Paris (Yumbo). Walk the dunes while it’s cool and watch surfers at Playa del Inglés.
Afternoon: Ride the sands the old-fashioned way with Camel Riding in Maspalomas Dunes (30 minutes; flexible slots). It’s family-friendly, photogenic, and a fun nod to the area’s Saharan winds. Book here: Camel Riding in Maspalomas Dunes.
Refuel with seaside lunch at El Senador by the lighthouse—grilled octopus, papas arrugadas with mojo, and a cold cerveza hit the spot. Alternatively, graze the stalls at Nomad Gastro Market (Holidayworld) for tacos, oysters, and craft cocktails.
Evening: Pool time at Hotel Caserio, then explore Yumbo Centre’s nightlife. Catch a cheerful drag-cabaret at Ricky’s Cabaret Bar or Sparkles Showbar and wrap with late tapas at Mana 264 (try their croquetas and Iberian pork). It’s lively, safe, and welcoming.
Day 3: Small-Group Catamaran to Virgin Beaches
Set aside a full day for a coastal escape on the Gran Canaria Virgin Beaches Boat Tour with Food. This small-group catamaran noses along the island’s wild southwest, anchoring in sapphire coves for swims and snorkeling, with lunch served on board. Expect calmer seas and more sun on this leeward coast.
Book here: Gran Canaria Virgin Beaches Boat Tour with Food
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a towel. Back on land, head to Puerto de Mogán’s marina for gelato, then taxi or bus home. Dinner near the hotel at La Palmera Sur if you didn’t go on Day 1, or keep it casual with wood-fired pies at Time (popular, thin-crust pizzas and spritzes).
Day 4: Las Palmas Day Trip — Vegueta, Triana, and Las Canteras
Morning: Bus up the GC-1 to Las Palmas (~50–60 minutes). Start in Vegueta: Casa de Colón’s ochre courtyards, the Cathedral of Santa Ana’s twin towers, and cobbled lanes lined with balconied houses. Coffee-and-pastry stop at Panadería San Martín (a local favorite chain) or a flat white at Café Regina Triana.
Afternoon: Stroll the pedestrian Triana district for boutiques and modernist facades, then taxi or stroll to Las Canteras. Snorkel by La Barra when the tide is right; rent mask and fins from beach shops. Lunch right on the water at La Marinera—ask for vieja (parrotfish) or a seafood parrillada and watch the surfers at El Confital.
Evening: Tapas crawl back in Triana: Allende Triana for papas arrugadas and prawn skewers, or book Deliciosa Marta for refined market cuisine (reservations recommended). Bus or taxi back south; the highway night views are a brushstroke of city lights on the bay.
Day 5: Volcano Day — Bandama Caldera, High Peaks, and Roque Nublo
Let experts do the driving on a full-day small-group tour that stitches together the island’s big inland sights—fertile calderas, pine forests, and the emblematic rock monoliths.
Book: Full Day to Bandama Volcano, Center and High Peaks of Gran Canaria & Roque Nublo
You’ll scope panoramic viewpoints, wander traditional hill towns, and hike near Roque Nublo for vast cloud-sea vistas. Pack a layer—temperatures can be 8–10°C cooler than the coast. After drop-off, celebrate back in the south with charcoal-grilled fish at Restaurante La Bahia del Pajar in Arguineguín or a mellow dinner around the hotel.
Day 6: South Coast Leisure and Submarine in Puerto de Mogán
Morning: Slow breakfast—try a Canarian tosta con tomate and fresh-squeezed orange juice at the hotel. Head to Puerto de Mogán for a harbor wander among bougainvillea-draped bridges.
Afternoon: Go below the surface on the SUBMARINE ADVENTURE - Submarine Excursion in Puerto de Mogán. It’s a seated, air-conditioned dive to see reefs, fish schools, and the ghostly outlines of small wrecks—great for kids and ocean lovers.
Book: SUBMARINE ADVENTURE - Submarine Excursion in Puerto de Mogán
Post-dive, snag lunch on the quay at N’aká (creative seafood) or, for a Michelin-star detour, book Los Guayres at Cordial Mogán Playa (inventive Canarian tasting menus; check opening days). Return to Playa del Inglés for poolside downtime.
Evening: Sunset drink at Meloneras Boulevard (watch the lighthouse blink on), then dinner at Restaurante Abrasa for local meat and grilled vegetables. If you prefer a pampered day, swap in a lounger at Perchel Beach Club (Arinaga) or slides at Aqualand Maspalomas—both are easy southern options.
Day 7: Last Dip, Market Snacks, and Departure
Morning: One more swim at Playa del Inglés or a gentle walk to La Charca to spot egrets and herons. Coffee and a slice of almond tart at Panadería San Martín or fresh fruit from a local market.
Afternoon: Pack, check out, and taxi/bus to LPA. If time allows before your flight, grab a light lunch of tortilla española and olives near the airport or back by the hotel.
Evening: Wheels up with sand in your shoes and a camera roll full of sunsets. Keep this guide handy for a future return—there’s still Agaete’s natural pools, Arucas rum tastings, dolphin cruises from Puerto Rico, and via ferrata adventures to try.
Optional add-ons if you want to swap a day:
- Guided “red canyon” scenery with tastings inland.
- Dolphin-watching cruises from Puerto Rico (best in calmer morning seas).
- Via ferrata for a beginner-friendly vertical thrill with epic views.
Useful Booking Links (Recap)
- Flights to Gran Canaria (LPA): Search on Omio
- Places to stay in Maspalomas: VRBO | Hotels.com
- Places to stay in Las Palmas: VRBO | Hotels.com
- Selected activities in this plan:
In one relaxed week you’ll have traced dunes to lighthouse, tasted the island’s coastal and mountain flavors, and stood eye-to-eye with its volcanic spine. Gran Canaria rewards slow mornings and adventurous afternoons—exactly the balance this itinerary delivers.